Molding machine



Sept. 14 1926. 19599573 4.,l. F. CALDWELL.

HOLDING MACHINE Filed Dee. 22, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 5f l W y n A" A A? 't' @l LU Sein. 14 1926i .3. F". CALDWELL MOLDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2l JAME5 FEEDER/CALDWELL @lblxnsmfsv Patented Sept. 1 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES JAMES FREDERICK CALDWELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MOLDING- MACHINE.

Application led December 22, 1924. Serial No. 757,525.

My invention relates to plastic molding machines of the character embodied in my Patent No. 1,481,686, issued January 22, 1924, wherein a plurality of collapsible molds vare provided, and mechanism common to all of the molds for collapsing the same following a molding operation to facilitate removal of the molded articles, and for returning the mold to set up position forI a subsequent molding operation.

Each mold includes side partitions hingedly connected to those adjacent molds and occupying positions perpendicular to the bottom partitions when the molds are setup. but capable of moving to substantially horizontal positions when the molds are moved to collapsed position.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a plastic molding machine of the above described character having means by which the side partitions are prevented from collapsing to sub-horizontal position for the object of eliminating` the additional length required in the machine to .allow for such r movement of the partitions of all yof the molds, and the removal of all strain or stress to which they have been subjected.

It is also a purpose of -my invention to provide in a molding machine means for automatically elevating the molded articles to free them from possible adhesion to the bottoms of the molds so that when the side and end partitions vare in collapsed position, the molded articles can -be easily removed intact from the molds.

Another purpose `of my invention is the provision of a molding machine having cores operating in conjunction with the molds to form hollow blocks, there being means for lubricating` the cores to prevent the plastic material from adhering to the cores and thereby facilitating removal of the latter from the blocks.

I will describe only Aone form of molding machine embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in Y claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 'of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a view showing in top plan the i machine shown in Figure 1 with portions thereof broken away;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4C is an enlarged fragmentary view V of one of the molds as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

' Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the views.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my invention, in its present embodiment, comprises a pair of parallel spaced rails 15 supported in elevated position by means of uprights or legs 16 rigidly connected to the rails and to each other by cross rails 17. The two rails 15, as clearly illust-rated in Figure 3, are U-shaped in cross section and co-operate to provide a track over which a plurality of molds are adapted to move.

As clearly shown in Figure 1, the several molds are arranged one in -advance of the other above the track, and as shown in Fig ures 3 and 4. each mold includes a base platev 18 formed of metal or other suitable material carrying rollers 19 which rest upon the lower flanges. of the rail 15 so as to support the base plate for movement `on the track. Superimposed on the base plate 18 is a vblock 20, while superimposed on the latter is a protecting sheet or plate 21, the block and plate co-operating to provide the bottom partition of the mold. The sides of the mold are made up of two relativelythiok ypartitions 22 pivotally supported on the base plate 18 by means of hinges 23, the mounting of the partitions being such that they can occupy a position perpendicular with respect to the base plate, which position is termed the set up position, andan inclined position, which position is termed the collapsed position. In the set up position, the side partitions cooperate with the other parts of the mold to receive and mold the plastic material into the article to be formed, while in the collapsed position they permit the. removal of the molded article from the mold. i

As shown in Figure 1, the side partitions 22 of any two adjacent molds are pivotally connected at their upper ends .by means of hinges 24, so that when one mold is moved in a direction away from the other mold the adjacent partitions will moveA to collapsed position. In order to prevent these partitions from collapsingbeyond the inclined position shown in Figure 1 and to thereby lessen the length of the entire machine required to accommodate a given number of molds, flexible elements 25, which elements are in the form of chains, connect the confronting ends of the base plates 18 of any two adjacent molds. The length of these elements is such that they are pulled taut when the side partitions 22 are in inclined or collapsed position, thus preventing further separation of adjacent molds. V'Elie fiexible elements also serve to relieve the hinges 23 and 24 of any strain or stress, as it will be understood that in the separated position of adjacent molds all pull is exerted on the elements and not on the hinges.

By reference to Figure l, it will be seen that the foremost or leading mold is operatively connected to an actuating block 2G, and through the medium of its side partition 22 and a similar partition 22fL hingedly connected thereto and also to the bloclr 26. Other flexible elements 25 connect the bloei; with the base plate 18 of the foremost mold, so that when the block is advanced, that is, moved to the left from the position shown in Figure l, the leading` partition 22 will be moved to collapsed position, and upon continued movement of the block the entire mold will be advanced to effect the movement of the rear side partition 22 to collapsed posi- A tion. It will be understood that by continuing the advancement of the block 25 the movement of the partitions of the other molds to collapsed position will occur successively.

The block 26 .is advanced through a mechanism which comprises in the present instancea pair of endless chains 27, to which the block is .secured by means of 'ears 28. These chains are trained around sprockets 29 fixed to shafts 30 and 31, the latter shaft having` fixed thereto a gear 32 meshing with a similar gear 33 fixed to a shaft 34. shaft 34, in turn, is driven by a pinion 35 fixed to a shaft 36 operated by a crank 37. A housing 38 encloses the several gears to protect the latter, as will be understood.

`The several molds also include end partitions 39 and 40, and these partitions are 'common to all of the molds. As shown in Figure 3, they are supported for pivotal movementA on the rails 15 to occupy set up or collapsed position, and for the purpose of accommodating cores 41 they are formed with openings through which the cores are adapted to slide, it being understood that the openings of one end partition register with those of the other partition. In the present instance, I have shown two cores 41 for .each of the molds, and these cores are mounted for sliding movement in a frame 42, including guides 43, and the several cores are connected to a shaft 44 to which latter is fixed a gear 45 meshing` with a-rack bar 4G. By means of a crank` 47, the gear 45 can be rotated overthe rack bar 46 to advance the cores through the openings of the end partitions 39 and 40,' and to withdraw the cores rllhe' from the molds subsequent to the molding of the plastic material. It is to be understood that the cores are to be used in the formation of hollow blocks or tiles.

To prevent the plastic material from adhering to the surfaces of the cores and to facilitate the withdrawal of the cores from the materia-l, l have provided lubricating elements, one for-each of the cores. Each lubricating element, as shown in Figure 5, includes a frame 48 secured to thc guides 43 and surroumling a body of absorbent material 49 having a central opening 50, through which the core is adapted to extend. l'y n'ieans of a funnel 51, oil or other suitable lubricant can be supplied to the absorbent body 49, and as the latter is in contact with the core it will be clear that during movement of the core it will have wiping engagement with the body so as to distribute the lubricant over the surfaces of the core.

t will be evident that with a thin film of lulnicaiit interposed between the plastic ma terial and the core that the adhesion of the material to the core is prevented.

For preventing adhesion between the bottom plate 20 of each mold and the plastic material and to thus facilitate the removal of the molded article from the mold, l have provided for each mold means which is automatically operable to slightly elevate the plastic material after the latter has set. rllhis means in the present instance comprises a bar 52 (Figures 2 and 3) normally reposing within a recess formed along one edge of the block 20. A rod 53 is secured at its upper end to the bar and is mounted for vertical sliding movement within a suit able opening formed in the block 20. The lower end of the rod is provided with a roller 54, and a spring 55 is interposed between the roller and the base plate 18 for normally urging the rod downwardly and the bar 52 to a position flush with the plate 2l. A rail is supported on the cross bars 17 to extend longitudinally of the machine and beneath the several base plates 18. Secured at intervals along the length of the rail 56 are anticlinal cams 57, one for each of the rollers 54. clearly shown in Figure 4, the corresponding cam 57 is arranged to be engaged by the roller during movement of the mold longitudinally of the machine, w iereby the rod 53 is forced upwardly against the tension of the spring 55 to move the bar to the elevated position shown in Figure 3. lilith the body of set plastic material reposing` on the plate 21, it will be clear that with upward movement of the bar the body will be elevated at one end sufciently to loosen the material with respect to the plate 21, so that when the mold is moved to collapsed position the molded article can be readily removed from the mold. lt is to be particularly noted that the spacingo'f the several cams 57 is irregular for the reason thatthe power necessary to operate the machine will be reduced if the operations of the bars 52 occur at dii'l'erent times rather than simultaneously.

Assuming that the machine has been actuated to move the several molds to collapsed position and the bars 52 to elevated position, and the cores el removed from the molded articles, it will be clear that by revel-sing the operation ot the machine the several molds will be returned to set up position, and the bars 52 to lowered position.

lt is to be particularly noted that in the set up position oll the side partitions 22 the hinges 2l are flush ivith the npper surta-ces deiined by the molds so that the plastic material introduced into the molds can be leveled oil' by a single scraping operation.

Although have here shoivn and described only one `torni of molding machine embodying my invention, it is to be nndcrstood that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention and thespirit and scope ot the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. A molding machine comprising a plurality o'l' molds arranged one in advance of the other and mounted `lor movement to occupy one extreme position in which they are set up and a second extreme position in which they are collapsed, mechanism by which the molds can be moved to either extreme position, each ot' the molds including movable partitions operatively connected to the movable partitions ot adjacent molds to normally occupy a set up position and to be m-oved to a collapsed. position When the leading mold is advanced su'lliciently to exert a pull on the mold next in the rear, and means connecting` adjacent molds for limiting the collapsed position of trie partitions to facilitate their return to set np position.

2. A molding machine as embodied in claim 1 wherein the connecting means operates to relieve the partiti-onsv and their connections of any strain.

3. A molding machine as embodied in claim l wherein the connecting means comprises flexible elements.

Il. In a molding machine, a movable mold, means movable in the mold for slightly elevating one end only ot a body ot' plastic material in the mold to overcome adhesion thereto, and means for actuating the elemting means when the mold is moved.

5. In a molding` machine comprising a plurality of movable molds, means movable in the molds for slightly elevating one end only of a body ot plastic material in the molds to overcome adhesion thereto, means for urging the elevating means to a nonelevating position, stationary elements, and

means engaging the stationary elements and connected to the lirst mentioned means for elevating the plastic body when the molds are 'moved G. ln a molding machine, a mold mounted for movement, a member carried by the mold and being movable to Aslightly elevate one end only of the plastic material Within the mold to overcome adhesion ot the material thereto, and means for vactuating the member when the mold is moved.

7. In a molding machine, a mold mounted for movement, a member movable in the mold to engage and litt one end ot a body of plastic material in the mold, means i'or urging the member to a non-elevating position, a stationary cam, and a second member engaging the cam and connected to the iirst member for elei'cating` the plastic body when the mold is moved.

S. A molding machine comprising a plurality of molds arranged one in advance ot the other and mounted tor movement to occupy one extreme position in Which they are set up and a second extreme position in which they are collapsed, mechanism byA which the molds can be moved to either entreme position, each of 'the molds including movable partitions operatively connected to the movable partitions olf adjacent molds to normally occupy a set up position and to be moved to collapsed position when the leading mold is advanced sulliciently to exert a pull on the mold next in the rear, means connecting adjacent molds for limiting the collapsed position ot the partitions, a member movable to elevate set plastic maternl Within each of the molds suliiciently to overcome adhesion thereof to the bottom of the molds, and means operable by movement of the mold Jfor actuating said member.

9. In a; molding machine, a plurality of molds mounted 'for movement, members carried by the molds movable 'to slightly elevate one end only oit the set plastic material Within the mold, to overcome adhesion oi' the material thereto, and stationary cams i'or actuating the members when the molds are moved, said means being arranged to effect actuation Yoi the members ai dilierent times.

l0. ln a molding machine, a movable mold, means for slightly elevating one end only of a body oll plastic material contained therein to overcome the adhesion of the plastic material 'to the mold and stationary means ior actuating the elevating means when the mold is moved.

ll. A. molding machine comprising a track, a plurality .ot molds mounted for movement along the track, each of the molds including side and end partitions capable o' occupying set up or collapsed positions, the side partitions ol adiacent molds being hingedly connected to their respective molds and t0 each other, flexible members connect-v ing adjacent molds, in a mannei to limit the collapsed position of the side partitions, bars mounted for veitiea-l movement within 5 the molds, rods connected to the bars, means forV urging the rods downwardly, and stationaiy cams adapted to be engaged by the rods for elevating tlie bars against the action of Said urging means.

l2. A molding machine as embodied in 10 claim l1 wherein tlie Cams are of anticlinal form.

JAMES FREDERICK CLDVELL. 

